Luggage frame locked by slidable handle



March 20, 1951 L. STEIN 2,545,501 I LUGGAGE FRAMES LOCKED BY SLIDABLE HANDLE 1 Filed July 20, 1945 2 Sheec's-Sheet 1 hVEnZZIYF 50 SrE/N March 20, 1951 STEIN LUGGAGE-FRAMES LOCKED BY SLIDABLE HANDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 20, 1945 FYq.5.

Patented Mar. 20, 1951 LUGGAGE FRAME LOCKED BY SLEDABLE HANDLE Leo Stein, Chicago, Ill. Application July 20, 1945, Serial No. 606,084

9 Claims This invention relates to improvements in luggage frames and particularly to improve ments in means for looking a bag in open or closed position.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide means for looking a bag in closed position by a sliding movement of one portion of a look ing mechanism relatively to another.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reciprocating locking mechanism for looking a bag in closed position, which may be operated by means of the carrying handle of the bag.

Another object of the invention is to provide for an automatic lock for holding a bag in wide open position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent or will be alluded to specifically hereinafter in the specification wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is described.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one type of luggage to which the present invention may be applied, showing a frame made in accordance with this invention installed in such l gage;

. Figure 2 is a side elevation of a luggage frame 5 made in accordance with this invention;

- frame in closed locked position and attached to the side walls of the bag;

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view similar to Figure 5, but showing the adjoining parts of the frame in unlocked and slightly open position;

Figure 7 is a view partly in section on the line VII-ViI of Figure 2;

s Figure 8 is an end elevation of the frame members as viewed from the left end of Figure 2; and

Figure 9 is a view partly in section, from'the right side of Figure 8, showing the frame members in open locked position.

Referring now to the drawings, a bag [0 is shown in Figure 1 equipped with a luggage frame made in accordance with this invention.

The frame comprises two rigid members, preferably made of some lightweight metal or other material suitable for this purpose, these members H and 52 having downwardly bent ends at opposite ends of the bag which are pivotally connected with each other by means hereinafter provided with a locking shoulder 35.

2 described. As seen in Figure 1, the material of the bag, usually leather, will be engaged in looking grooves provided in the frame members, as shown in Figure '7, and firmly clamped therein.

The marginal edges of the side Walls of the bag are indicated as is and M. When the frame members are in closed locked position, a tongue on one will be engaged with a groove E6 on the other to form a tight closure at the top of the bag.

The pivotal connection between the two frame members H and i2 'is accomplished by providing at each end of the frame the hinge plates l i and I8 and loosely pivoting the ends of the frame members to these plates by rivets l9 and 25, such as are shown in Figure 1. Each hinge plate comprises an end wall and a flange such as 22 extending inwardly therefrom. As shownin Figures '7 and 8, the extremities of the two frame members extend within the area bounded by the flange 22, when the bag is closed.

The gusset 23 shown in Figure 1 at one end of the bag is locked into the frame members in the same way as are the side walls l3 and M, as shown in Figure 7. The margins of an opening in the gusset may be engaged snugly with the outside of the flange 22. It will be understood that the gusset at the opposite end of the bag, though not shown, is identical. in construction.

For locking the bag in open position, I provide means whereby when the marginal edges of the opening on a bag are rotated to wide open position, a locking mechanism will automatically come into play and hold the bag open until intentionally manually released to permit closing. To this end there is secured to the member l2 a pair of locking cam plates 24 and 25, rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner, as for example by the screws 26 and 2? shown in Figure '7. The cam plate 24 is provided with a curved slot 28 through which the rivet 20 will slide when the bag is being opened.

Since the two locking cam plates 24 and 25 are rigidly. secured to the frame member 52, they will rotate with that member as it is being rotated between closed and open position, thus carrying the curved slot 28 in plate 24 and a corresponding one (not shown) in plate 25 past the loose pivot pins 25 and 20' through which the member H is loosely pivoted to the hinge plates I! and [3, respectively.

Each of these locking cam plates 24 and 25 is Figure 9 shows how that shoulder is formed on the plate 24, there being a tapered surface 3| adjoining the locking shoulder 39. As the two frame members are rotated from closed to wide open position, the plates 24 and 25 are rotated along with the frame member [2, while the end portions of the frame member I I will rotate until they snap in back of the shoulder 38 on plate 24 and the corresponding shoulder (not shown) on plate 25. It will be observed from Figure 9 that the pivot pin or rivet 2c is sufiiciently longer than. the thickness of the members through which it passes that a little end play is possible. Hence it is an easy matter to spring the cam plates and the frame member l l relatively to each other. to bring about a disengagement of the locking shoulders to en.- able the bag to be closed.

For locking the bag closed, I provide a member which may be reciprocated longitudinally. of the closed edges of the opening of the bag whereby one or more slotted members will engage a cor responding number of pins to thereby lock the opposite edges: of the ;opening together. The closurelock for. the bag is preferably constructed so thatyit' may-conveniently be operated by a handle 40..

Thehandlejii is; connected with a plate 6! which is;slidably mounted on top of the frame member [2,. Any suitable means for connection ofthe handle to this slidable plate may be utilized.,so long as the connection will enable the plate to be reciprocated by means of the handle. Thehandle may be pivotally mount-ed so that it can; be. rotated downwardly to either side or, as indicated in the drawings, it may be mounted in a rigid position. In this constructionv I employ a pair of posts embracingthe sides of thehandle at each end thereof, one pair of these posts being; shown in Figure '7 and marked 62 and it. Post Z2 is secured rigidly to the plate 4!. Likewise'post 33.: is secured rigidly to the plate :il in any suitable manner, for example by-a horizontal pin M, an extensionof that post passing downwardly through an elongated slot 5? in frame member l2 and being secured by a screw 53 to another sliding plate 45 which is spaced below the member 12 by means of spacing washers 4E.

The underside ofthe frame member H is provided with a plurality of posts whose heads arespaced somewhat. below the bar li so that locking lugs-may be slid underneath these posts and around their shanks. lugs 48, shaped as shown, are secured in any. suitablemanner to the sliding plate 15, for example, by screws 48 When the handle 46. is reciprocated to the right as Figures 2, 5 and 6 are viewed, the locking lugsJiB will become disenu gaged from the post 4?. But when the bag is closed-and it isrdesired to lockit closed, the handlemay. be moved toward the left, and asthe plates 4! and 45 are slid toward the left the lockinglugs la will becomeengaged under the heads of the posts 47. Asshown inFigures. 4 and 6, two cam surfaces are provided on each locking lug to provide a'snug engagement, the cam. surface 49 within the'slot on the lug tending to draw-1 the-opposite sides of the bag together, while the cam surface Sdshown in Figure 4 provides a wedging action.

As may be observed in, Figure 3, the plate at may be provided with a latch 5i which, during locking movement of the device, will enter a lock 52 of ordinary construction and become releasably engaged with a post provided on a latch button 53, the buttonand its post being urgedinto locking position by a springinot shown) and disengaged therefrom by pushing the button 53 out Accordingly locking of latching engagement with the latch 58. The details of construction of this lock do not form a part of this invention. As is customary with locks of this character, a key may be inserted at 54 and operated to prevent unauthorized release of the latch button 53.

To guide the plate 65 in its sliding movement, I provide a pair of posts or round headed screws such-as-EE mounted in themember. l2 .and extending through slots 58 in the plate 45.

Slots necessary to permit movement of the extension of post 43 through the frame member l2 and a corresponding post at the other end of the handle are of course provided. One of these slots is shown in Figure 7 and indicated as 57.

It will now be understood that I have provided a very simpleandieifective means for locking a bag either in open or closed position. While a preferredembodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood; that various; details .of construction may be varied through a-wide range without departing from the principles of-this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwisethan necessitated by the scope .of the appendedclaims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a handbag, a, pair of cooperating frame members forming marginal edges .of an. opening in the-bag, aplurality of spaced apart. posts extending downwardly from. an: inner surface of. one frame member, aplate slidably, mounted on an inner surfaceof the opposite. frame member and having. hooks; thereon. for locking engagement with said posts as an incident tolongitudinal sliding. movement of the plate in one direction, a plateslidably mounted. onan outer surface of said-oppositeframe member, means connecting said. two plates whereby the inner plate is slidable by means of the outer plate, and means for attaching a handle totheouter. plate, said. hooks having cam edges. cooperating with the posts .toeffectdrawing together of the frame members coincident tosaid locking engagement.

2. In,a handbag, apai'r of'cooperating frame members forming marginal edges of an opening in the bag, one of said frame members: being provided with a groove and the other with a tongue registrable with said; groove for accurately aligning said edges, a plurality of spaced apart posts extending downwardl from an inner surface of one frame member, a plate slidably mounted on an inner surface of the opposite frame member andhaving hooks thereon forloeking engagement with said posts, a plate slidably mounted on an outer surface of saidoppositeframe-member, means for connecting said two plates whereby theinner plate is slidabie-by means of the outer plate, and means for attaching a handle to.the outer plate.

3. In a handbag, a pair of cooperating frame members forming: mutually abutting marginal edgesof anv opening in'the bag, a plurality of spaced apart projections on an under inner. surface. of one frame. member, a plate slidably to the outer plate in centered relation to the frame members as permitted by the lateral eX- tensions of said outer plate.

4. In a handbag, a pair of cooperating frame members forming marginal edges of an opening in the bag, a plurality of spaced apart posts extending downwardly from an inner surface of one frame member and terminating in enlarged heads, a plate slidably mounted on an inner surface of the opposite frame member and having hooks provided with tapered surfaces in vertical and nearly horizontal planes thereon for wedging locking engagement with said posts, a plate slidably mounted on an outer surface of said opposite frame member, means connecting said two plates whereby the inner plate is slidable by means of the outer plate, and means for attaching a handle to the outer plate.

5. In combination, in a handbag structure, a pair of separable frame 'members cooperating to provide a closable opening for a bag, a plurality of spaced apart posts extending downwardly from an inner surface of one of said frame members and terminating in enlarged heads, a member carried by an inner surface of the remaining frame member and longitudinally movable relative thereto, said longitudinally movable member having a plurality of slotted portions thereon engageable and disengageable with respect to said posts by longitudinal movement of such member, said slotted portions having cam faces opposingly related to the heads on said posts to effect a substantially wedging engagement with said heads, and means at the outside of said frame members for effecting longitudinal movement of said member having the slotted portions.

6. In combination in a handbag construction, a pair of frame members cooperating to provide an openable closure for a handbag, a plurality of rigid elements depending from one of said members, a plate slidably disposed at an inner surface of the other of said members, said plate having a plurality of hooks interengageable with and releasable from said elements upon respective sliding movements of said plate, a second plate disposed on an outer surface of said other frame member, and a pair of posts connecting said plates, said other frame member having longitudinal slots therein to clear said posts for longitudinal sliding movement of the plates, said posts projecting above the outer plate and being attachable to a handle.

7. In combination in a handbag construction,

a pair of frame members cooperating to provide an openable closure for a handbag, a plurality of rigid elements depending from one of said members, a plate slidably disposed at an inner surface of the other of said members, said plate having a plurality of hooks interengageable with dinal slots therein to clear said posts for longitudinal sliding movement of the plates, said posts projecting above the outer plate and being attachable to a handle, and additional posts carried by said outer plate in transversely spaced relation to the first mentioned posts and also being attachable to the handle.

8. In combination in a handbag construction, a pair of separable frame members cooperative to define a closable opening for a handbag, one of said members having a plurality of rigid postlike elements extending therefrom in a common direction, the other of said members having a longitudinally movable structure thereon including a plurality of hooks projecting therefrom toward said one member for engagement and release from the post-like elements upon respective longitudinal movements of said structure, said hooks including cam surfaces facing toward said other member and in engagement with the posts effecting tight drawing together of the post-like elements and said hooks and thereby of the frame members.

9. In combination in a handbag construction, a pair of separable frame members cooperative to define a closable opening for a handbag, one of said members having a plurality of rigid headed post-like elements extending therefrom in a common direction, the other of said members having a longitudinally movable structure thereon including a plurality of hooks projecting therefrom for engagement and release from the post-like elements upon respective longitudinal movements of said structure, said hooks having respective angular cam faces opposing the heads of the engaged posts and in full engagement of the hooks with the posts efiecting wedging interengagement with the post heads.

LEO STEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 58,467 Paddock Oct. 2, 1866 135,596 Schmitt Feb. 4, 1873 427,641 Tucker May 13, 1890 668,707 Bean Feb. 26, 1901 843,934 Erickson et a1 Feb. 12, 1907 867,269 Hiering et al Oct. 1, 1907 1,022,817 Binkley Apr. 9, 1912 1,102,307 Tueckmantel July 7, 1914 1,126,439 Foans Jan. 26, 1915 1,262,288 Vom Eigen Apr. 9, 1918 1,677,278 Foehrenbach July 17, 1928 1,741,603 Axelman Dec. 31, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 25,532 Great Britain Nov. 26, 1908 681 Great Britain Feb. 11, 1909 258,024 Germany Mar. 27, 1913 

